# Routing Optimization Tutorial
> [Route calculation](https://benomad.com/dev/doc/bemap-api/routing/route-calculation.md) · API reference: [`POST /routing/1.0`](https://benomad.com/dev/doc/bemap-api/api/routing/routing.md)
# Routing Optimization Tutorial
This tutorial explains how to use **routing optimization options** to compute smarter, more efficient routes.
The `OPTIMIZED_*` options allow you to:
- Reorder waypoints automatically for shortest/fastest trip
- Close a route (circular trips)
- Order the stops for a round trip (back to start)
- Find charging stations when battery is insufficient (deprecated: use EV Smart Routing)
- End the trip at the most optimal destination
Each section includes a use case, a description of the result, and a JSON example.
## How to enable Optimization
To activate optimization, include `"OPTIMIZED_TRIP"` in the `options` array, along with any desired sub-options:
```
"options": [ "OPTIMIZED_TRIP", "OPTIMIZED_TRIP_CLOSE" ]
```
## `OPTIMIZED_ROUTE_FOR_CHARGING_STATION`: EV smart routing with charging stops (deprecated)
**Use case**
Optimize electric vehicle routing by automatically adding charging stops when the trip is not feasible with the current battery and vehicle parameters.
⚠️ **Deprecated:** the specification marks this option deprecated. To plan charging stops, use EV Smart Routing, `POST /2.0/evsmartrouting`.
**Example**
```
{
"destinations": [
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 4.8357, "lat": 45.7640 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 5.0470, "lat": 43.6045 } }
],
"routingVehicleProfile": {
"transportMode": "CAR",
"routingEnergyVehicleFeature": {
"energyLoad": 38.4,
"batCapacity": 64,
"payload": 200,
"scx": 0.6,
"crr": 0.01,
"dryWeight": 2000,
"engineEfficiency": 0.9,
"maxAccel": 2.5,
"maxDecel": -3.0
}
},
"routingChargeFeature": {
"socAlert": 10,
"socAtArrival": 20,
"reachChargePointAtArrival": true,
"connectorTypeIdFilters": [1, 2, 3],
"providers": ["gireve"]
},
"options": [ "OPTIMIZED_ROUTE_FOR_CHARGING_STATION", "POLYLINE" ]
}
```
`energyLoad` is the energy loaded at departure, in kWh: 38.4 kWh is 60 % of this 64 kWh battery.
**What it does**
- Is meant to check route feasibility with EV parameters (energy loaded, vehicle consumption, etc.).
- If the trip can't be completed, is meant to insert optimal charging station stops along the route.
- Measured on production, it inserts no stop. This trip needs 59.9 kWh (option `ENERGY_CONSUMPTION`) for 38.4 kWh loaded, and the answer is `200` with the same route as without the option (276 723 m, 9 879 s), no charging stop (`interDests` is `null`) and nothing saying the energy is not enough.
**⚠️ Requires a valid routingEnergyVehicleFeature block; the charging preferences go in `routingChargeFeature`.**
**Response** (polyline shortened to its first two points)
```
{
"usedDestinations": [
{
"inputOrder": 0,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 0,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
"confidenceValue": 0.3344370860927152,
"distanceFromRequest": 18.24,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": -1,
"length": -1
},
{
"inputOrder": 1,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 1,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 5.045919559748073,
"lat": 43.60390268559976
},
"confidenceValue": 0.04452326340594739,
"distanceFromRequest": 109.57,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 9879,
"length": 276723
}
],
"routingRoutes": [
{
"length": 276723,
"duration": 9879,
"totalDuration": 9879,
"trafficDelay": 0,
"departureTime": 0,
"arrivalTime": 0,
"averageSpeed": 100.84045,
"maximumSpeed": 0,
"startUTurnThreshold": 3000,
"boundingBox": {
"minLon": 4.70685,
"minLat": 43.60067,
"maxLon": 5.12559,
"maxLat": 45.76617
},
"startStopInfo": {
"start": {
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
"stop": {
"lon": 5.04592,
"lat": 43.6039
},
"distanceFirstMatched": 0,
"distanceLastMatched": 0.3,
"interDests": null
},
"polyline": [
{
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
{
"lon": 4.83422,
"lat": 45.76421
}
]
}
]
}
```
## `OPTIMIZED_TRIP`: Optimized itinerary between fixed start and end points
**Use case**
Reorder a list of waypoints to find the most optimal travel path, **keeping the first and last points fixed**.
Useful for delivery or service routes with a flexible order of intermediate stops.
**Example**
```
{
"destinations": [
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 4.8357, "lat": 45.7640 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 4.8923, "lat": 45.7700 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 4.9000, "lat": 45.7400 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 5.0470, "lat": 43.6045 } }
],
"routingVehicleProfile": {
"transportMode": "CAR"
},
"departureTime": "2025-07-02T09:00:00",
"options": [ "OPTIMIZED_TRIP", "POLYLINE" ]
}
```
**What it does**
- Keeps start and end points fixed.
- Reorders intermediate destinations to minimize travel time, distance, or energy.
- Can consider departure time to factor in time-based traffic or restrictions.
You can combine this with EVENT or energy options for enhanced routing context.
**Response**
```
{
"usedDestinations": [
{
"inputOrder": 0,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 0,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
"confidenceValue": 0.33438985736925514,
"distanceFromRequest": 18.24,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": -1,
"length": -1
},
{
"inputOrder": 1,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 1,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 4.892257988197541,
"lat": 45.7697075
},
"confidenceValue": 0.20329411764705882,
"distanceFromRequest": 32.72,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 1160,
"length": 10992
},
{
"inputOrder": 2,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 2,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 4.90009,
"lat": 45.73994
},
"confidenceValue": 0.34147334147334146,
"distanceFromRequest": 9.67,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 1896,
"length": 15938
},
{
"inputOrder": 3,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 3,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 5.045916592146761,
"lat": 43.6039025
},
"confidenceValue": 0.04951623367054404,
"distanceFromRequest": 109.78,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 11677,
"length": 293138
}
],
"routingRoutes": [
{
"length": 293138,
"duration": 11677,
"trafficDelay": 0,
"averageSpeed": 90.37396,
"maximumSpeed": 0,
"startUTurnThreshold": 3000,
"boundingBox": {
"minLon": 4.70685,
"minLat": 43.60067,
"maxLon": 5.12559,
"maxLat": 45.79358
},
"startStopInfo": {
"start": {
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
"stop": {
"lon": 5.04592,
"lat": 43.6039
},
"distanceFirstMatched": 0,
"distanceLastMatched": 0.28,
"interDests": null
},
"polyline": [
{
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
{
"lon": 4.83422,
"lat": 45.76421
},
```
## `OPTIMIZED_TRIP_CLOSE`: Optimize and return to start point
**Use case**
Reorder waypoints for the best itinerary **and automatically close the loop** by adding a leg from the last point back to the first one.
Useful for logistics tours or delivery loops.
**Example**
```
{
"destinations": [
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 4.8357, "lat": 45.7640 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 4.8923, "lat": 45.7700 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 4.9000, "lat": 45.7400 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 5.0470, "lat": 43.6045 } }
],
"routingVehicleProfile": {
"transportMode": "CAR"
},
"options": [ "OPTIMIZED_TRIP", "OPTIMIZED_TRIP_CLOSE", "POLYLINE" ]
}
```
**What it does**
- Optimizes the trip order (like `OPTIMIZED_TRIP`)
- Adds an extra leg back to the starting point, turning the itinerary into a loop
The order is the one of `OPTIMIZED_TRIP`: the last input point is still the last one visited before the leg back. For the order of the best round trip, add `OPTIMIZED_TRIP_ROUND` as well (see below).
Combine with `departureTime` or `EVENT` for time-aware or segment-detailed optimization.
In the response, `startStopInfo.distanceLastMatched` is measured from the last input point, not from the stop of the closed route: 241 km here is the distance from the last input point to the start, not a stop 241 km off the road.
**Response**
```
{
"usedDestinations": [
{
"inputOrder": 0,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 0,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
"confidenceValue": 0.33438985736925514,
"distanceFromRequest": 18.24,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": -1,
"length": -1
},
{
"inputOrder": 1,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 1,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 4.892257988197541,
"lat": 45.7697075
},
"confidenceValue": 0.20329411764705882,
"distanceFromRequest": 32.72,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 1160,
"length": 10992
},
{
"inputOrder": 2,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 2,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 4.90009,
"lat": 45.73994
},
"confidenceValue": 0.34147334147334146,
"distanceFromRequest": 9.67,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 1896,
"length": 15938
},
{
"inputOrder": 3,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 3,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 5.045916592146761,
"lat": 43.6039025
},
"confidenceValue": 0.04951623367054404,
"distanceFromRequest": 109.78,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 21545,
"length": 570336
}
],
"routingRoutes": [
{
"length": 570336,
"duration": 21545,
"trafficDelay": 0,
"averageSpeed": 95.29866,
"maximumSpeed": 0,
"startUTurnThreshold": 3000,
"boundingBox": {
"minLon": 4.70685,
"minLat": 43.60067,
"maxLon": 5.13023,
"maxLat": 45.79358
},
"startStopInfo": {
"start": {
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
"stop": {
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
"distanceFirstMatched": 0,
"distanceLastMatched": 241049.82,
"interDests": null
},
"polyline": [
{
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
{
"lon": 4.83422,
"lat": 45.76421
},
```
## `OPTIMIZED_TRIP_ROUND`: Round trip with return to origin
**Use case**
Order the stops for a **round trip that comes back to the start**, but compute the route **without the leg back**: it ends at the last stop of that round trip.
Useful when you want to return to the start point without computing the return now.
**Example**
From Lyon to Grenoble, Saint-Étienne, Annecy, Bourg-en-Bresse and Chambéry:
```
{
"destinations": [
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 4.8357, "lat": 45.7640 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 5.7245, "lat": 45.1885 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 4.3872, "lat": 45.4397 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 6.1294, "lat": 45.8992 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 5.2256, "lat": 46.2052 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 5.9178, "lat": 45.5646 } }
],
"routingVehicleProfile": {
"transportMode": "CAR"
},
"options": [ "OPTIMIZED_TRIP", "OPTIMIZED_TRIP_ROUND", "POLYLINE" ]
}
```
**What it does**
- Keeps the first point as the start, and orders the other points for the best round trip back to it: the last input point is not kept as the end
- The route **does not come back to the starting point**: it stops at the last stop of the round trip
- Use this when the return is known or not important to recalculate
On this example, `OPTIMIZED_TRIP` alone ends at Chambéry, the last input point (503 527 m, 23 125 s). With `OPTIMIZED_TRIP_ROUND`, the order is Bourg-en-Bresse, Annecy, Chambéry, Grenoble, Saint-Étienne, and the route ends at Saint-Étienne (472 839 m, 21 279 s), the stop nearest to Lyon. When the input order is already the best round trip, the answer is the same as with `OPTIMIZED_TRIP` alone.
To close the route explicitly with recalculation, add `OPTIMIZED_TRIP_CLOSE` as well: on this example, the round trip back to Lyon is 535 975 m, 24 888 s. The option reference names it `OPTIMIZED_TRIP_CLOSED`, which does not exist and answers `400`.
As with `OPTIMIZED_TRIP_UNDEFSTOP`, `startStopInfo.distanceLastMatched` is measured from the last input point (Chambéry), not from the stop of the route (Saint-Étienne): 120 122.31 m here.
**Response** (polyline shortened to its first two points)
```
{
"usedDestinations": [
{
"inputOrder": 0,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 0,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
"confidenceValue": 0.3344370860927152,
"distanceFromRequest": 18.24,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": -1,
"length": -1
},
{
"inputOrder": 1,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 4,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 5.724327290069303,
"lat": 45.188401015273264
},
"confidenceValue": 0.17611290443660382,
"distanceFromRequest": 17.46,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 14828,
"length": 318980
},
{
"inputOrder": 2,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 5,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 4.3877491649491365,
"lat": 45.43977574972
},
"confidenceValue": 0.3877400295420975,
"distanceFromRequest": 43.72,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 21279,
"length": 472839
},
{
"inputOrder": 3,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 2,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 6.1294068627825995,
"lat": 45.899013872549695
},
"confidenceValue": 0.19503084006602378,
"distanceFromRequest": 20.73,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 9325,
"length": 209254
},
{
"inputOrder": 4,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 1,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 5.225610545343734,
"lat": 46.20518316360312
},
"confidenceValue": 0.10860354880657745,
"distanceFromRequest": 2.05,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 3781,
"length": 80572
},
{
"inputOrder": 5,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 3,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 5.917029578044807,
"lat": 45.56465721509572
},
"confidenceValue": 0.007007433349600533,
"distanceFromRequest": 60.38,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 11999,
"length": 260728
}
],
"routingRoutes": [
{
"length": 472839,
"duration": 21279,
"totalDuration": 21279,
"trafficDelay": 0,
"departureTime": 0,
"arrivalTime": 0,
"averageSpeed": 79.995316,
"maximumSpeed": 0,
"startUTurnThreshold": 3000,
"boundingBox": {
"minLon": 4.3877491649491365,
"minLat": 45.18484,
"maxLon": 6.13176,
"maxLat": 46.20753
},
"startStopInfo": {
"start": {
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
"stop": {
"lon": 4.38775,
"lat": 45.43978
},
"distanceFirstMatched": 0,
"distanceLastMatched": 120122.31,
"interDests": null
},
"polyline": [
{
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
{
"lon": 4.83422,
"lat": 45.76421
}
]
}
]
}
```
## `OPTIMIZED_TRIP_UNDEFSTOP`: Open-ended optimized trip
**Use case**
Compute an optimized trip that starts at a **defined point** but **ends at any of the waypoints**, choosing the one that produces the best overall path.
This is useful when the final destination is flexible (e.g. logistics scenarios, open deliveries).
**Example**
```
{
"destinations": [
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 4.8357, "lat": 45.7640 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 5.0470, "lat": 43.6045 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 4.8923, "lat": 45.7700 } },
{ "coordinateSat": { "lon": 4.9000, "lat": 45.7400 } }
],
"routingVehicleProfile": {
"transportMode": "CAR"
},
"options": [ "OPTIMIZED_TRIP", "OPTIMIZED_TRIP_UNDEFSTOP", "POLYLINE" ]
}
```
**What it does**
- Keeps the first coordinate fixed as the start
- Selects the most optimal final stop among the remaining waypoints
- Skips the need to manually define a final destination in advance
Useful when the route can end at any stop to minimize time, distance, or cost.
In the response, `startStopInfo.distanceLastMatched` is measured from the last input point, not from the stop the route ends at: 238 km here is the distance between the last input point and the stop chosen, not a stop 238 km off the road.
**Response**
```
{
"usedDestinations": [
{
"inputOrder": 0,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 0,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
"confidenceValue": 0.33438985736925514,
"distanceFromRequest": 18.24,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": -1,
"length": -1
},
{
"inputOrder": 1,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 3,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 5.045916592146761,
"lat": 43.6039025
},
"confidenceValue": 0.04951623367054404,
"distanceFromRequest": 109.78,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 11677,
"length": 293138
},
{
"inputOrder": 2,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 1,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 4.892257988197541,
"lat": 45.7697075
},
"confidenceValue": 0.20329411764705882,
"distanceFromRequest": 32.72,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 1160,
"length": 10992
},
{
"inputOrder": 3,
"used": true,
"usedOrder": 2,
"matchedCoordinateGps": {
"lon": 4.90009,
"lat": 45.73994
},
"confidenceValue": 0.34147334147334146,
"distanceFromRequest": 9.67,
"polylineIndex": -1,
"duration": 1896,
"length": 15938
}
],
"routingRoutes": [
{
"length": 293138,
"duration": 11677,
"trafficDelay": 0,
"averageSpeed": 90.37396,
"maximumSpeed": 0,
"startUTurnThreshold": 3000,
"boundingBox": {
"minLon": 4.70685,
"minLat": 43.60067,
"maxLon": 5.12559,
"maxLat": 45.79358
},
"startStopInfo": {
"start": {
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
"stop": {
"lon": 5.04592,
"lat": 43.6039
},
"distanceFirstMatched": 0,
"distanceLastMatched": 238062.84,
"interDests": null
},
"polyline": [
{
"lon": 4.83554,
"lat": 45.76412
},
{
"lon": 4.83422,
"lat": 45.76421
},
```